How to Reduce the Frustration from Moving Day

Moving can be a stressful time in your life, but there are a few things you can do to make the move less frustrating.

Plan your move.

Whether you decide to hire a moving company or do the move yourself, the day has the potential to be stressful. If you decide to use a moving company, make an appointment for the movers to come to your house to evaluate the work that will be needed and to give you an estimate as soon as you know your moving date. If you are going to be doing the move yourself, call a moving vehicle rental company to get their rates and reserve a truck for your big day.

Give yourself plenty of time to pack. Even if you are using a moving company, there are going to be items that you will want to pack yourself. Organize your belongings so that the packing can go quickly. Label all of the boxes with as much detail as possible regarding what’s inside.

Depending on how long you have lived in your current home, you will likely have quite a lot of stuff that you no longer need or want. Sell or donate these items, or if you have to, throw them away. Do not bring them to your new home.

Pack an “Open First” box with the essentials you will need right away at your new home, such as toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, trash bags, cups and plates, scissors, snacks and paper towels. Keep some basic tools in this box in case you need a screwdriver or other tool to put some furniture together or break down boxes. Make a box for your valuables and important documents. Keep this box with you during your move.

Make a “Do Not Pack” space in your bedroom with all the personal items you will need on your moving day and possibly for the few days after the move. Pack a suitcase as if you were going on a three-day vacation.

Make travel arrangements or special arrangements for any children or pets on moving day. Even the most well-mannered children can get in the way of people carrying boxes. It is a stressful time for your animal, as well, and the less stress they see and feel you under, the better it is for them.

Make a plan for moving day.

Have plenty of drinks and snacks for the movers and other helpers. Keeping them happy means they will treat your belongings with more care.

Ensure that your electronic devices are fully charged. You definitely want to be able to use your phone on your moving day.

Take pictures of the connections of wires on your electronics. This will help you hook them back up at your new place easily.

Have your bedroom furniture loaded on the truck last so that it is the first room to have furniture. That way if the move lasts an extra-long time, you will still have something to sleep on.

Do a walkthrough with your movers before any of your belongings are taken off the truck. This way they will know the rooms and can figure out where the appropriate boxes will go.

Unpack your “Open First” box.

Pace yourself. Stop unpacking at a reasonable time. It’s very easy to keep going until the wee hours of the night since your adrenaline will be pumping. Whatever you don’t get unpacked will still be waiting for you the next day, week or month. It will wait for you!

While not all the stress can be eliminated from a move, organizing your belongings and preparing yourself for some bumps in the road can help reduce your frustration level on moving day.